Mulcher
The disclosed mulcher has a base unit and a shredding blade in a removable assembly. Two different embodiments are disclosed. In both embodiments, shredded material is removed from air exiting the shredding blade before it reaches an exhaust port. In one embodiment, the material is removed by a filter. In the other embodiment, walls are arranged so that debris must double back against high-speed airflow leaving the shredding blade before exiting the unit. The shredding blade can be mounted in front of and on the same shaft as an air impeller, with the back surface of the shredding blade being supported by the impeller. In another embodiment, the air impeller and the shredding blade are carried in assemblies that are separable from each other and are each separately attachable to a base unit. A detachable power module and a detachable blower are also shown. The power module has a safety switch that disables the power module when it is removed. A power receptacle is shown with a switch that alternately switches power to either the shredder motor or to the power receptacle, but not to both simultaneously.
This disclosure generally relates to products used to clean residential yards, and more particularly to products used to collect and dispose of fallen leaves or yard waste.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREFallen leaves and yard waste are often collected and bagged or composted. Unless shredded, bagged leaves or yard waste can be bulky. Unfortunately, conventional shredders that are used to shred leaves and yard waster can be large and expensive. The large size can be inconvenient, particularly given that the product is generally used during only one season of the year.
The applicants have developed a mulcher that has a removable shedder assembly that enables the product to be used for shredding leaves, yard waste, or other relatively light-weight materials. The shredder assembly can also be removed, enabling the vacuum to be used as a conventional utility vacuum. Because utility vacuums are used during all seasons, the product has more overall use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One example of a mulcher 10 that embodies the invention is illustrated in the figures. The illustrated mulcher has three primary parts: a base unit 12, a shredder assembly 14 (seen in
The illustrated base unit 12 has a tank wall 20, a closeable port 22, and an open top 24 (see
The base unit 12 can also include optional features like wheels or casters 30, a storage compartment 32, or a drain 34 for a wet/dry vacuum. A handle 35 can also be attached.
The shredder assembly 14 (best seen in
The power module 37 cuts the material that is drawn in through the mulching inlet 36. As seen in
As seen in
The power module 37 fits onto a receptacle 48. As best seen in
For safety, special care has been taken to minimize the risk of misuse of the power module 37. As seen in
As suggested in
The illustrated shredder assembly 14 does not require a filter. As can be understood from
In the illustrated device, small holes are shown in the lower wall 63. These holes can help reduce pressure within the storage reservoir by permitting some air to exit the device without doubling back against the flow of air from the directional walls 59. The small size of the holes prevents large particles from taking this path. A solid wall (with no apertures) can also be used.
The illustrated exhaust port 66 (
The lower rim 38 of the shredder assembly 14 is arranged so that it can be attached to the open top 24 of the base unit 12. Three latches 68 are provided on the illustrated base unit, and can be used to hold the shredder assembly to the base unit. Conventional latches are known.
The latches 68 are arranged so that they can also hold the head unit 16 to the base unit 12. Although other arrangements are possible, providing the expensive parts of the latches on the base unit, rather than on both the shredder assembly 14 and on the head unit, may be preferred as a way to minimize cost.
When the shredder assembly 14 is attached to the base unit 12, the opening of the lower rim 38 enables shredded leaves or yard waste cut by the shredding blade 40 to pass to the storage reservoir in the base unit. When the shredder assembly is removed from the base unit, the open top 24 of the base unit also accommodates the head unit 16.
As seen in
In the illustrated device, a shredder power cord (not shown) extends from the shredder assembly 14 and can be used to provide AC power to the shredder motor. An optional power receptacle 69, best seen in
A detachable blower 72 can be used with either the shredder assembly 14 or the head unit 16. When used with the head unit, the blower provides the vacuum used for conventional vacuuming, as explained in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,116. When used with the shredder assembly, the blower can be used as an accessory tool. In that arrangement, a blower power cord for the blower can be plugged into the receptacle 68 on the shredder assembly, eliminating the need for the user to extend two separate cords to the primary power outlet. A caddy or supporting frame 74 on the shredder assembly (
Another example of a shredder vacuum 10′ is illustrated in
The illustrated base unit 12′ has a tank wall 20′ (
The base unit 12′ can also include optional features like wheels or casters 30′, a storage compartment 32′, or a drain 34′.
The shredder assembly 14′ has a mulching inlet 36′, a shredding blade 40′ (
Unlike in the other embodiments, this shredder assembly 14′ also has an upper opening 136′. The upper opening accommodates the head unit 16′.
The shredder assembly 14′ can also house an independent shredder motor for driving the shredding blade 40′. A shredder power cord running to the shredder motor can be used to provide AC power. When the shredder assembly is provided with its own power cord, it can also be provided with a power receptacle 68′, as seen in
The illustrated head unit 16′ has a motor, an air impeller, a head inlet 140′, and an exhaust port. The air impeller provides the motive force for drawing air, leaves, or other materials through the device. A conventional vacuum motor can be used to power the impeller. Relying on a separate impeller to provide the power for moving air through the device allows the shredding blade 40′ to be specifically designed for shredding, rather than for moving air. Thus, a more efficient shredding blade can be used. Similarly, the air impeller can be specifically designed to move air and not for shredding, as is the case in some household leaf vacuums.
The head inlet 140′ opens to the storage reservoir in the base unit 12′, enabling the impeller to draw a vacuum in the reservoir through a passage 144′ from the reservoir to the air impeller. The vacuum pulls leaves through the mulching inlet 36′ during mulching operations and pulls dirt or debris through the port 22′ in the base unit during vacuuming operations. The exhaust port allows air to escape from the unit.
The head unit 16′ can also include one or more filters. The illustrated filter 150′ is a common paper filter mounted on a filter cage. The illustrated additional filter 152′ is a conical filter that preliminarily filters the air before it reaches the paper filter. A flange 154′ (
As seen in
An impeller power cord can be used to provide AC power to the motor in the detachable blower 72′. When the shredder assembly 14′ is provided with a separate shredder power cord and receptacle, the impeller power cord can be plugged into the receptacle on the shredder assembly to prevent the need for two separate cords to extend to user's primary power outlet.
The illustrated embodiments provide differing options for mulching yard waste while being able to use a conventional wet/dry vacuum cleaner tank as the storage reservoir for the mulched material. The embodiment of
This disclosure describes specific applications of the invention, and is intended to be illustrative only. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions, and deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is set out in the following claims.
Claims
1. A mulcher comprising:
- an inlet for yard waste;
- a storage reservoir in a base unit;
- a shredding blade that is mounted in a unit that is separable from the base unit;
- a pathway that leads from the inlet to the shredding blade;
- an exhaust port that is in fluid communication with the shredding blade; and
- wherein shredded material is removed from air exiting the shredding blade before the air passes through the exhaust port.
2. A mulcher as recited in claim 1, in which:
- the shredding blade is mounted in front of and on the same shaft as an impeller;
- the shredding blade has a forwardly-projecting portion; and
- a back surface of the shredding blade is supported by a forward portion of the impeller.
3. A mulcher as recited in claim 1, in which:
- the separable unit has a vacuum assembly that carries an air impeller; and
- the shredding blade is in a shedder assembly that is user-separable from the vacuum assembly.
4. A mulcher as recited in claim 1, in which:
- the shredding blade is in a shredder assembly;
- the vacuum has a separate vacuum assembly with an air impeller; and
- the base unit has a part to which both the shredder assembly and the vacuum assembly can be alternately attached.
5. A mulcher comprising:
- an inlet for yard waste;
- a shredding blade;
- a pathway from the inlet to the shredding blade;
- a storage reservoir beneath the shredding blade;
- an exhaust port in fluid communication with the shredding blade; and
- a filter interposed between the shredding blade and the exhaust port.
6. A mulcher comprising:
- an inlet for yard waste;
- a shredding blade;
- a pathway from the inlet to the shredding blade;
- a storage reservoir beneath the shredding blade;
- an exhaust port in fluid communication with the shredding blade; and
- a wall that is interposed between the shredding blade and the exhaust port and forces all shredded material exiting the shredding blade to change direction before reaching the exhaust port.
7. A mulcher as recited in claim 6, in which:
- the wall is part of a tube;
- the vacuum also has a channel adjacent the tube; and
- air flows though the tube in one direction, and through the channel in an opposite direction.
8. A mulcher as recited in claim 6, in which:
- the wall is part of a tube;
- the vacuum also has a channel that is adjacent to and at least partially surrounds the tube; and
- air flows though the tube in one direction, and through the channel in an opposite direction.
9. A shredder assembly for a utility vacuum that has (a) a base unit with an open top and (b) a user-separable head unit that attaches to the open top of the base unit, the shredder assembly comprising:
- an inlet for yard waste;
- a shredding blade;
- a pathway from the inlet to the shredding blade; and
- a lower rim that attaches to an open top of a base unit of a utility vacuum and has an opening that enables shredded material to pass from the shredding blade to the base unit when the shredder assembly is attached to the base unit.
10. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises:
- an upper opening that attaches to an open bottom of a head unit for the utility vacuum; and
- a passage that enables air to pass from the base unit to an impeller in the head unit when the shredder assembly is attached to the base unit and to the head unit.
11. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises:
- a shredder power cord; and
- an electrical receptacle.
12. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises a detachable power module that houses both the shredding blade and a shredder motor.
13. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises:
- a detachable power module; and
- a safety switch that disables the power module when the power module is detached from the shredder assembly.
14. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises:
- an independent shredder motor that drives the shredding blade;
- a shredder power cord that runs from the shredder motor to an AC plug; and
- a power receptacle.
15. A shredder assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the assembly also comprises:
- a power receptacle;
- a shredder motor; and
- a switch that alternately switches power to either the shredder motor or to the power receptacle, but not to both simultaneously.
16. A mulcher comprising:
- an inlet for yard waste;
- a shredding blade in a shredder assembly;
- a pathway from the inlet to the shredding blade;
- a storage reservoir beneath the shredding blade;
- an exhaust port in fluid communication with the shredding blade; and
- an air moving unit that is user-separable from the shredder assembly and has an impeller.
17. A mulcher as recited in claim 16, in which the mulcher also comprises:
- a blower that has a blower power cord, houses an air impeller, and is user-separable from a supporting frame;
- a separate shredder power cord; and
- an electrical receptacle.
18. A mulcher as recited in claim 16, in which:
- the storage reservoir is in a base unit; and
- the base unit also has a separate, closable port.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2008
Patent Grant number: 7654480
Inventors: Mark Baer (Trout Run, PA), Jason Gottschall (Williamsport, PA), Robert Crevling (Williamsport, PA), Randy Buss (Muncy, PA)
Application Number: 11/859,760
International Classification: A47L 7/00 (20060101); A47L 5/12 (20060101);